Method for reducing metals.



R. J. MuNITT.

METHOD FOR REDUCING METALS. APPLICATION FILED 9012s, 1909.

993,391 Patented May 30,1911.

EKG.

ROBERT J. 'MONITT, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ROESSLER a HA SS- LACHER' CHEMICAL- COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW I YORK.

NfETHOD FOR REDUCING- METALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 30, 1911..

To all whom it may concern:

- Be it known thatI, RoBER'r J. MoNrrr,

Reducing Metals, of which a citizen of t-he United States of America,

residing at Niagara Falls, in the countypf Niagara and State of'New York, have mvented a certain new and useful Method for the following is a specification.

My invention relates toanew. and useful method for reducing metals from compounds containing the same and the object of the invention is to provide a method for more economically and'effectively carrying on such reduction.

My invention consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining the metal which it is desired to reduce, with another metal or mixture of metals, which latter metal or mixture is volatile only at different tempera: tures and pressures than thatnat which the metal sought to be produced gives ofi' its vapor. The solution, alloy or chemical com pound thus prepared is then brought to a suitable temperature and an inert gas passed through the same, said. gas carrying over with itself the vapors of the more volatile metal or metals. These vapors may be separated from the gas by any suitable means and collected asdesired.

In the following I have described, in connection with the accompanying drawing, one

meansof carrying out my invention, the features thereof being more particularly point edout hereinafter in the claims.

The drawing is a sectional elevation of oneform ofgdevice for carrying out my invention, the .view being"largely diagrammatical. I I

I have illustratedmy invention in connection with a continuous-process for the reduction of metallic sodium from its compounds, for example, sodium chlOi'id, in which illustration the sodiumis alloyed with a suitable cathode meta1- 'such' as leadthrough the action of electrolysis, lead being volatile only at'a higher temperature and lower pressure than-sodium.

The" drawing illustrates an electrolytic cell, preferably of cast iron, having an electrolytic chamber 1 and a furnace chamber 2. 3 is a transverse partition extending from side to side of the chamber 1, anopenin 4:

being left between one end of the partit on 3 and the end wall 570i the chamber 1, the other end. 6 of partition 3 beingturned tion is one of the end walls of the electrolytic cell and is adapted to form the other wall offurnace chamber2.

11 is the bottom of the cell connecting walls 5 and 10.

It is seen that the relation of the parts is such that there is a free means of communication th rough channel 12 from furnace chamber 2 through opening 4 into the electrolytic chamber 1 and from electrolytic chamber 1' through seal 7 over wall 9 into the furnace chamber 2.

13, 13 indicate the anodes hich may be of any suitable substance, suc as carbon or graphite, and connected by wire 14 to a source of suitable electric current (not shown). I a

15 represents the cathode metal, which in the illustration chosen, is molten lead.

16 indicates the compound from which the metal desired is to be reduced, which in the illustration chosen, is sodium chlorid. 17, 17 represent asuitable magnesialining protecting the walls of the electrolytic chamber 1 and extending down below the surface of the cathode metal 15, as shown.

18 represents a stirrer blade .on shaft 19 suitably supported and driven by gear 20 actuated by any suitablemeans. The object a of the stirrer blade 18 is to circulate the molten'metal from channel 12 through, opening4 into chamber 1. I

2-1 is a cover forming an air-tight connecwith chamber 1 asbestos. i

22 is an opening'in cover 21, which in the illustration chosen, is adapted to permit 't rolysis of sodium chlorid, to escape. The 'chlorin may be conducted to a suitable \receiver (not shown) for any purpose d,-'

sired. Cover 21 is also provided with suitablemeans (not shown) for charging the chamberl.

23 is an electriccontact to the cathode. 24 is a pipe conducting an inert gas, such as hydrogen or nitrogen, for example, to a and is preferably of i the chlorin,' one of the products of elec-' point beneath the surface of the contents of ace chamber 2, the inner end of the pipe being suitably perforated (perforations not shown) for the passage of gas therethrough into the contents-of furnace chamber 2, said gas being forced under suitable pressure through pipe 2i from-any convenient source In the illustration the heating means is shown as a gas burner 26. w

27 is a gooseneck onnection from furnace chamber 2 to cond nser 28, condenser 28 dis.- charging into receptacle 29. I

30 is a I 'table air-tight cover for furnace chamber 2.

In the operation of the device described and in connection with the reduction of metallic'sodium from sodium chlorid, the so dium is se arated from the chlorin and alloyed wit the cathode metal, which as stated above may be lead, .or tin,,or a mixture of these or other suitable metals, the chlorin passin oif through opening 22 in cover 21 as escribed. The alloy is caused to circulate out of electrolytic chamber 1 through seal 7 under wall 8 and over wall 9 into furnace chamber 2 by the pressure exerted upon it by the superincumbent sodium chlorid, 4

which must be renewed as fast as decomposed, in connection with circulating device 4 18, as described. In furnace chamber 2 the alloy is maintained at'.a suitable temperature by'means of furnace 25 and subjected to the action of the inert .gas which passes through the same, the gas carrying the vapor of the morevolatile metal, in the illustration chosen, sodium, with it, through connection 27 into condenser 28, the remaining portion a of the molten alloy, freed from some or all of the metal whichiis sought, being drawn through chanel 12and opening 4 into chamber l'by means of the circulatmg device described. In chamber 1 the residual metal again serves as the cathode becoming re-.

charged or further charged with the sodium.

The means described 15 illustrative of but one manner of carrying out my-invention, as it is obvious that an alloy might belprepared in other ways than by-electrolysis,

that solutionsor chemical compounds hav- 7 ing the characteristics desired may be used in place of alloys and that other metals than sodium may be reduced. It is further obvious that the metal desired may remain in the furnace as the residual metal, the vapors driven off bein .those of the metal. or

metals-with which the metal desired has been alloyed or otherwise combined, although I prefer to drive off the metal desired as described herein in connection with sodium. It is further obvions' that themetal driven of! may be recovered in other waysthan,

by condensation or may be acted upon in an unconde'nsed state by suitable rea nts a1- lowing the inert gas tojpass ojn an be usedover again as described. The process may be continuous or intermittent and the inert gas may be used over again by means of suitable connections.

The practice of my invention is especially advantageous in connection with metals which are attacked by atmospheric gases and also in connection with the reduction and separation of metals under reduced pressures. In this latter case the pressure in chamber 2, for example, may be reduced by any suitable'me'ans, as a vacuum-pump (not shown), placed in connection with condenser 28, in the usual mane'r.

I do not restrict myself to any of the de tails of operation shown or described, as they may be considerably varied without departing from the spiritlof my invention.- D

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1 1; The method of reducing a metal from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining said metal with another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at different temperatures and pressures than that at which the metal sought to be produced gives off its vapor, maintaining said solution, alloy or compound at a suitable temperature and passing an inert gas through the same.

2. The method of reducing a metal from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining said met-a1 with another metal or mixture of inetals volatile only at different-temperatures and pressures than that at which the metal sought to be produced gives off its vapor, maintaining "said solution, alloy or compound. at a suitable temperature, passing an inert gas through the same and condensing the metal driven off. 3. The method of reducing a-metal from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining said metal with' another metal ormixture of metals volatile only at higher temperatures and lower pressures than that at, which the metal sought to be produced gives ofi its vapor, mamtaining said solution, alloy or compound at a suitable temperature and passing thro h the same aninert gas.- v

45%8 method of reducin" a metal from its compounds-which consists in dissol alloying or chemically combining said metal with another m tal ormixture of,metals volatile only a higher tem eratures and lower pressuresthan that at w 'ch the metal sought to be. produced gives ofi its vapor, mamtaining said solutlon, alloy or com-' pound at a suitable temperature, passing through the same an inert gas and condensingthemetalu 5. The method of reducing a metal from itficompounds which consists in dissolving,

1 with another metal or mixture of metals pound at a suitable temperature, passing tures and lower pressures alloying or chemically combining through the same an inert gas, separating the metal driven off from said gas and again passing the gas through thersolution, alloy or compound. i

'6. The method of reducing a metal from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying-or chemically combining said metal with another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at higher temperatures and lower pressures than that at which the metal sought to beproduced gives oiiits vapor, maintaining said solution, alloy or compound at a suitable temperature, passing through the same an inert gas, separating the metal driven ofi from said gas and again passing the gas through the solution, alloy or compound. 1 v V 7. The method of reducing sodium from sodium chlorid whic consists in alloying the sodium with another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at higher temperathan sodiufn, maintaining said alloy at a suitable temperature and passing through the same an inert gas.

'8. The method of reducing sodium from sodium chlorid which consists in alloying the sodium with another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at higher temperatures and lower. pressures than sodium, maintaining said alloy .at a suitable temperature, passing 'through the same an inert gas and condensing the sodium. I

9. The method of reducing sodium from its compounds which consists in dissolving,

the sodium with another metal or' mixture of metals volatile only at difierent temperatures and pressures than sodium, maintaining said solution, alloy'or compound at a suitable temperature and passing through the same an inert gas.

10. Thegnethod of reducing sodium-from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining the sodium with another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at different temperatures and pressures than sodium, maintaining said solution, alloy or compound at a I suitable temperature, passing through the same an inert gas and condensing the sodium.

11. The method of reducing a metal from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining said metal with another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at different temperatures and pressures than that at which themetal sought to be produced gives oii its vapor, maintaining said v solution, alloy or compound at a suitable temperature, submitting the same to a pressure lower than that'due to the atmosphere and passing an inert gas 2 through the same.

12. The method of reducing a metal from its compounds which consists in dissolving, alloying or chemically combining said metal with, another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at difierent temperatures and pressures than that at, which the metal sought to be produced gives off its vapor, maintaining said solution, alloy. or compound at a suitable temperature, submitting the same .to a pressure lower than that due to the atmosphere, passing an inert gas through the same and condensing the metal driven off. I

13. The method of reducing sodium from its compounds which consists in dissolving,

alloying or chemically combining the sodium with another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at different tempera-' tures and pressures than sodium, maintaining said solution,.alloy or. compound at a suitable temperature, submitting the 'same to a pressure lower than that due to the atmosphere and passing through the same an inert gas.

14. The method o f reducing sodium from its. compounds which consists in dissolving,

alloying or chemically" combining. the sodium w1th another metal or mixture of metals volatile only at difierent temperatures and pressures than sodium, maintaining said solution, alloy or compound at a suitable temperature, submitting the same to a pressure lower than that'due to the atmosphere, pass ing through the same an inert gas, and condensing the sodium.

In testimony-whereof I have signed this speci cation in the presence of two subscribing 'tnesses.

Witnesses:

HOWARD E. BATSFORD,

, J. CLoYoDowNs.

ROBERT J. MoNITT. 

